medical field careers

Career Planning A presentation compiled by The Australian Society for Medical Research Copyright applies The Australian Society for Medical Research ACN 000 599 235 - ABN 18 000 599 235 145 Macquarie Street. Sydney, 2000 Ph: (02) 9256 5450, Fax (02) 9252 0294 Email: asmr@world.net Website: www.asmr.org.au Snr Executive Officer: Catherine West Developing a plan for success • What are your career goals and options • Time to move on? • Strengths and weaknesses The academic career path • Research • Independence, originality and leadership • Quality of publications • Contribution to discipline • Profile at national and international levels • Teaching • Undergraduate • Postgraduate The non-academic career path • Pharmaceutical industry • Biotechnology • Government • Research management The active process of career planning • First action for planning your career “GET A MENTOR” • Position yourself in an appropriate city and institution • Set short and long term goals • Build a track record Building a track record • Individual Responsibility • Your career - your responsibility • Outcomes • Peer-reviewed publications • Highlight awards • Develop collaborations Publications • Aim as high as reasonably possible • Quality is important • Impact factor vs citations • Conference presentations should be converted into journal papers within a short time • Authorship position Maximise opportunities • Counterbalance ‘new’ areas of research with projects which WILL yield publishable results • Be prepared to complete and compete • Be pro-active • Network! • Referees • Minimise problems • Track record – relative to opportunity Demonstrate your independence • Signal a change (no later than 5 years post-doc) • Apply for fellowships • Get involved in professional activities • Ensure you write papers • Authorship position • Ensure you write grants • Start with small grants as lead or sole investigator The vicious grant cycle • To get a grant, need publications – to demonstrate independence need own grant! • No grant is too small or insignificant Climbing the career ladder • Fastest way upwards is to keep moving • Potential pitfalls • Study leave option • New ideas / new collaborations The Australian Society for Medical Research Public, Political and Scientific Advocacy ASMR Peak professional organisation representing Australian Health and Medical Research • • • Direct membership Affiliated professional societies and medical colleges Corporate and foundation (patient groups) membership Reaching 142,000 Australians • • • Established 1961 Independent Proven track record http://www.asmr.org.au ASMR Public Advocacy ASMR Medical Research Week® National Tour by the ASMR Medallist Medical Research Week Dinners Public Expositions Community Lectures Schools Events Careers Seminars Awards and Prizes Scientific Meetings http://www.asmr.org.au ASMR Political Advocacy http://www.asmr.org.au Submissions to Government - 2006 Pre Budget Submission Legislative responses to recommendations of the Lockhart Review Productivity Commission Science and Innovation Study Australian Code for Responsible Conduct of Research NHMRC Amendment Bill 2006 Lobbying Face-to-face political visits Letter writing political campaign Commentaries and OpEd articles Friends of ASMR and National Champions Additional $905 million to Health and Medical Research in Federal Budget 2006 Facts and Figures Professional Online Workforce Survey (due for December 2006) Access Economics Report, Exceptional Returns: The Value of Health R&D in Australia Campaign website http://www.asmr.org.au/Campaign/campaign.html ASMR Scientific Advocacy Bi-annual Australian Health and Medical Research Congress Annual National Scientific Conference State Scientific Meetings Careers Information Professional Development Workshops ASMR Research Awards Campion Ma Playoust Memorial Award Newsletter Email updates on important issues! Online ASMR Member Directory http://www.asmr.org.au ASMR Become a Member Your involvement is crucial! Online Application http://www.asmr.org.au Membership Application Form Available at the end of this talk Cost Ordinary membership 2005 Overseas/Full time student/Retired 2005 (Prices include GST) $100.25 pa $ 55.50 pa http://www.asmr.org.au